Hello there… What lovely rain we have had over the past few days; the last time I checked our rainwater gauge (early this am) showed about thirty-nine mls, which is great for our gardens! I am super pleased, we were able to install the new four and a half metre storm-water drain (pipe), across the top of the second entrance to our loop driveway, before the rains came (so much hard work!). It was worth it! I can report (Husband just checked it now with all the rain flowing), it is working well, to take all the excess storm-water away from the house! Last year, we installed a three metre one to the first driveway; due to so much water run-off at the top of our property (being semi-rural and on the side of a big hill). Sadly, there are no gutters or drains to the roads around our property; the ongoing risk of flooding at the front of our property again is very real!
We are excitedly awaiting our new baby white silky chooks; I rang up Fife’s (our local feed stock store) earlier in the week (thanks guys!) and it shouldn’t be too many more weeks to get our new girls (no roosters this time!). Understandably, we are waiting for the chooks to be properly sexed; as we know (from recent horrible experience!), it can be difficult to pick a rooster, until they come into age (normally about eighteen to twenty weeks). I know I am looking forward to having new animal pets to care for; two of our current chooks have been very broody lately and won’t get off their nesting boxes (making life a bit dull for the other chooks and us too!). Also, for the first time in nearly four years, I had to ask Husband to purchase a carton of eggs from the local supermarket (oh no!); how sad, the girls are not laying at present. I respect all local produce (and purchase it too), but nothing beats our own freshly laid bright yellow-yoked eggs to eat (c’mon girls- we NEED some eggs very soon!). It is uncanny, at this time last year, we were giving away cartons of eggs (to family and friends), from our six older girls who have now passed (RIP), laying at least twelve to fifteen eggs a day (hopefully we will get a few fresh eggs with the new girls soon)…
As I mentioned in the last blog, Husband and I will be celebrating our twelfth wedding anniversary (fourteen years together!) next weekend (is a good milestone- don’t you think?). Not trying to harp on the subject; I have to mention though, finding the right gifts for these events can be a little tricky, let alone for men in general (Husband is tricky to buy for at the best of times). I was chatting with a close friend earlier in the week about anniversary gifts, my friend later realised (sorry had to mention my dear H.C!), they had forgotten their own anniversary the week prior (uncannily, we are only about two weeks apart to the same year with our weddings- unfortunately not knowing each other back then); commenting on their very busy weeks at present with renovating their lovely home (understandably it was missed!). I reassured her not to worry and perhaps they could arrange a nice dinner out together, when things settled down (at least they were spending some quality time together renovating!).
According to the internet (our friend in finding such information!), the traditional twelfth anniversary gifts are silk and linen, while the modern twelfth anniversary present is pearls. Not sure what gifts were appropriate and not wanting more linen (as have too much at present); we recently replaced Husband’s lost wedding ring, with a smooth sterling silver band (Husband had chosen himself -so he would wear it!). Husband wasn’t sure what to get me; we had been thinking about purchasing a ride-on mower for our acreage; but the initial cost (yikes- looking at thousands for a good one!) and the ongoing maintenance of the equipment always an issue (not being tradespeople either). I saw an advertisement for an electric lawn mower (gotta love Bunnings!), and thought why not give it a try? (As long as Husband gets me some flowers or chocs as well hey?) It might be fun to use (not mowing many lawns in my life so far) and the kids could all have a turn, and it would be good to help Husband mow the yard at the same time. Mister C so eloquently said, “It can be a Mummy mower!”… So, we wandered down to Bunnings and purchased the mower (it was very light and a good price); Husband set it all up (thanks love!) and we gave it a go. I have to say, I ‘m now addicted!…
Moving right along… Let’s go back to mid-2018 (nearly there yet?); I mentioned in the last blog, Husband had been experiencing small unusual and annoying heart palpitations. Husband commented, “What is with these recent heart palpitations or irregular heart-beat, or whatever it’s called. In the last five days or so, they have been three to four times a day, instead of the normal three to four a month. Feels like a sudden thump-thump-thump quickly, then back to normal. All my life and even just six weeks ago before and after my recent surgery, I have had the perfect blood pressure? (Husband sounds like a nurse, too doesn’t he?!). Guess I had better lose some more weight, have not focused on this since the surgery and weighed myself a week ago; it has gone up a bit!” (sounds like a bit of stress to me Husband?) … Husband also commented later, “A week or so ago, I wrote about these annoying heart palpitations. Well, they have kind of stopped; maybe once a day instead of like ten times a day! Have lost a kg of weight and will try to get fitter; also think it was all mainly stress at home and a bit at work too.”
Husband finally told me about the palpitations he was having (naughty!); I did his blood pressure at home (on my trusty manual BP machine-a handy piece of equipment) and it was normal. His pulse (heart rate) was also fine and regular; I suggested to him to go make an appointment to see our GP and have a chat about things, that were perhaps stressing him out a bit. He made an appointment the following week; our GP suggested to monitor his diet (reduce salt and sugar) and watch his alcohol intake; the GP ordered a blood test and an ultrasound. Husband seemed happy with this plan; he was even motivated to ride his bike around the block with Flossy (few a few weeks anyway) …
Mister C was still being monitored in the playground, at lunch time recess during school; he had (thankfully) mostly settled down over the following weeks, particularly with the school holidays coming up in July. I had addressed the issue of name calling at the after-school care centre, where Mister C and Flossy had attended. The care leaders were caring and had promised to monitor the situation (thank-you!); I did hear one particular family (two of the children had been caught teasing Mister C and other children to note), were asked to move on from the group (as told by Flossy and Mister C one afternoon) … Mister C was still reluctant to attend the care program; so, we decided to look for other options down the track, for the next upcoming holidays. To this day, I occasionally have a quiet chuckle to myself, with the idea of Mister C being called a ‘cicada’; kids can be so quick to think of these words in order to tease others. I know Mister C was upset by all of this, and to this day he still becomes easily offended, when the word ‘cicada’ is even mentioned near him.
We were very proud (and still are) of how Mister C coped with starting kindy, and with the developing social (and behavioural) skills expected at school (is a learned thing). Husband commented, “A sweet milestone memory; yesterday morning I took Mister C’s shoes downstairs to put them on for him. As I was putting them on, I thought one day soon, I will probably stop doing this, and never do it again; I wanted an image of him at five years old getting ready for school. I looked up at him and he was smiling at me.” As a reward for Mister C (and of course the girls too), with some fun for the whole family; we took a happy day-trip up to Mittagong (still one of our favourite places) and had a family fun-day bowling, having lunch and shopping at the local mall (why is it always fun to shop in another town?). Husband also commented, “Took kids bowling at Mittagong. Each time we go (every few months or so), Mister C improves with his bowling and trying to carefully roll the bowling ball down the aisle; while he also improves noticeably with less tantrums, impatience and running off. It is a good measure of how he is growing up”…
A Word from Mister C…
Mister C and Flossy were both helping me in the chook shed, in the late afternoon. Mister C sighed and then slapped his own lower leg. “Oh, I hate those mozzies, Mummy. I’m getting outta here! They love me too much!” He then shouted, running off back up to the house, making a kind of half skip, half trot motion. Later at dinner time, at the dining table; Mister C was scratching at his leg. “Oh, look at those mozzie welts, my son,” I said, frowning; “Let’s get some cream on those nasties- quick sticks!” I then said, passing him a cup of cordial with tea. Mister C sighed, turned to Daddy and then said, “Why do the mozzie’s bite ME so much, Daddy?” … “Oh, my son, because you’re so delicious!” Laughter filled the dining area…
Stay tuned…
Mister C wanted to say a BIG thank-you to everyone who has read our books; it means the WORLD to us! If there is anything we can do better on the blog or site, please let us know. We are happy to make changes for the better! We are getting through 2018, bear with us- we’ll get to 2019 shortly. More stories and family issues; I unfortunately notice through mid-August I become increasingly tired and then unwell? (oh no); I visit our GP for further investigations… Night from Mister C… ❣
The plate has a tiger eye poking out, funny!
Yes, it is a favourite plate of Mister C’s. Keep on reading. Me and Mister C…